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What is a Wetland? You might think that any land that is wet would be a wetland, right? But if the occurrence of water was the only thing that made a wetland a wetland, then deeper parts of oceans and rivers would be considered wetlands. And we know that is not true! So, what actually makes a wetland a wetland? Wetlands are defined by three things: 1. Soil 2. Plants 3. Hydrology Wetlands are spread throughout Nebraska, but it is useful to identify some of the larger wetland complexes in the state. Wetlands can be found everywhere! All rivers and streams have wetlands. If you look at the map, many areas of Nebraska lie outside of a wetland complex, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t wetlands in those areas. From the busy cities of Omaha and Lincoln to the quiet rural towns, wetlands can be found.

Wetlands: a source of great interest, and at times conflict. Wetlands represent different things to different people. To some people they may be considered shallow, muddy nuisances whereas to others they are considered to be wonderful, varied, and productive assets. This is because wetlands take on many roles as part of an elaborate and dynamic system. Understanding wetlands requires understanding the complex and varying roles they can play. To aid in this understanding, this guide defines wetlands, discusses their importance and dynamics, identifies threats and losses, describes conservation programs, and takes an in-depth look at Nebraska’s regional wetland complexes. Nebraska’s wetland resources are surprisingly diverse and dynamic. They include marshes, lake edges, river and stream edges, backwaters, oxbows, wet meadows, fens, forested floodplains, and seep areas. These wetlands vary greatly in nature and appearance due to physical features, such as geographic location, water source and permanence, and chemical properties. Some wetlands hold water for only a few weeks or less during the spring, whereas others rarely go completely dry. Many wetlands receive their water from groundwater aquifers, and others are totally dependent on precipitation and runoff. Finally, the water chemistry of wetlands ranges from fresh to saline, and from acidic to basic. These descriptions identify the extremes of wetland characteristics. Nebraska’s wetland resources possess these extremes and virtually every combination in between.

Wetlands — a source of great interest, and at times conflict. Wetlands represent different things to different people. At times they’re viewed as shallow, muddy nuisances while at other times they’re viewed as wonderful, varied and productive assets. This is because wetlands take on many roles as part of a complex and dynamic system. Understanding wetlands and wetland issues requires understanding the complex and varying roles that wetlands can play. To aid in this understanding, this guide defines wetlands, discusses their importance and dynamics, identifies threats and losses, describes conservation programs, and takes an in-depth look at Nebraska’s regional wetland complexes. NEBRASKA’S WETLANDS Nebraska’s wetland resources are as diverse and dynamic as those of any state in the nation. They include marshes, lakes, river and stream backwaters, oxbows, wet meadows, fens, forested swamps, and seep areas. These wetlands vary greatly in nature and appearance due to physical features such as geographic location, water source and permanence, and chemical properties. Some wetlands hold water for only a few weeks or less during the spring while others never go completely dry. Many wetlands receive their water from groundwater aquifers while others are totally dependent on precipitation and runoff. And finally, the water chemistry of wetlands ranges from fresh to saline, and from acidic to basic. These descriptions identify the extremes of wetland characteristics. Nebraska’s wetland resources possess these extremes and virtually every combination in between. What Is a Wetland? There has been a tremendous amount of controversy about how to define wetlands. Much of this controversy is related to the fact that wetlands are regulated by several laws, and to apply these laws, the wetland boundary needs to be determined (a process termed wetland delineation). Delineation of wetlands is difficult because they occupy a transitional zone on the landscape, and frequently become dry

Nebraska’s Eastern Saline Wetlands are the most limited and endangered wetland type and vegetation community in the State and are considered critically imperiled in Nebraska. These wetlands provide habitat for a variety of native plant and animal species that depend on a saline environment, including two endangered species. Because of their location in and around the city of Lincoln, saline wetlands are ideally located to provide recreational opportunities and flood protection. Past impacts have resulted in the degradation of nearly 90% of the saline wetlands and those remaining face continued threats. Although several programs are in existence to address saline wetland conservation, they alone have not been able to ensure the long-term protection of this resource. This plan seeks a partnership approach to address the conservation of saline wetlands and the needs of the community. Its implementation will need cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies strengthened by the business knowledge of private enterprise, the energy and imagination of local conservation interests, and participation by private landowners to create pro-active programs, incentives, and strategies.